Aryna Sabalenka, back on court for the second time in as many days following the apparent suicide of former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, had a difficult and emotional week come to an end on Saturday with a 6-4 1-6 6-1 loss to Anhelina Kalinina.
After a gutsy second round win on Friday over good friend Paula Badosa, the world number two appeared to have little left in the tank physically, mentally or emotionally for a late night Stadium court battle with Ukrainian Kalinina.
When her return wide gave Kalinina the match, the 25-year-old Belarusian bowed her head, took a few steps, then flew into a rage, venting her frustration by smashing her racquet to pieces at centre court.
With racquet destroyed, she then turned and walked off court without shaking the Ukrainian’s hand.
‘Proud of myself’
“It’s always tough to play on big stages against these top players,” said Kalinina. “Today was really tough with nerves but I managed in the tough moments to deal with it.
“So I’m a little bit proud of myself today.”
The result and outburst are hardly a surprise coming at the end of a pressure-packed week for the Australian Open champion.
Alcaraz, Sinner advance
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz and number two Jannik Sinner took the first confident steps towards the mouth-watering Miami Open final tennis fans want to see by romping into the third round on Saturday with blowout wins.
Tennis’s newest and hottest rivalry was dialled up a notch last week in the Indian Wells semi-finals when Alcaraz put the first blemish on Sinner’s perfect season by halting the Italian’s 16 match winning streak.
Sinner shrugged off the loss saying Miami would be a fresh start, which began with a breezy 6-3 6-4 workmanlike win over fellow Italian Andrea Vavassori.
Alcaraz, who went on to win Indian Wells and arrives in Miami bidding to complete the “Sunshine Double”, was no less efficient in a clinical 6-2 6-1 win over Roberto Carballes Baena in an all Spanish encounter.
